The corrosion inhibition of mild steel in 1 M H 2 SO 4 in the presence of polyvinylpyrollidone (PVP) and polyacrylamide (PA) as inhibitors at 30–60°C was studied using gravimetric and gasometric techniques. The inhibition efficiency (1%) increased with increase in concentration of the inhibitors. Increase in temperature increased the corrosion rate in the absence and presence of inhibitors but decreased the inhibition efficiency. Both PVP and PA were found to obey Temkin adsorption isotherm and Kinetic-Thermodynamic Model of El-Awady at all the concentrations and temperatures studied. Phenomenon of physical adsorption is proposed from the activation parameters obtained. Thermodynamic parameters reveal that the adsorption process is spontaneous. PVP was found to be a better inhibitor than PA.